Farewell to 2013

Happy New Year's Eve! I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating, however you like to celebrate it best. I've rung in the new year so many different ways. When I was in junior high, I would spend it babysitting my cousins. In high school, we were usually at someone's house watching movies or snowshoeing. To ring in 2000, the big Y2K year, I was attending a wedding at midnight! I've spent many years quietly journaling alone, which I completely enjoy. This year I'm beyond excited to get to celebrate it with my man not at the hospital. The first two years of Pete's residency, I went to be with him at the hospital while he was on call. (perk: he got to deliver the New Year's babies!) Last year we almost got to be together, but he was called in for an emergency 20 minutes before midnight. Twenty minutes! So close!

This year, there will be no call. We thought there would be no babysitter, but my amazing sister offered to throw a little New Year's slumber party for her kids and ours, so Pete and I actually get to celebrate in style! I am so excited. Yesterday I bought new make up and tried a few new styles on my hair. Today I had my nails done and bought false lashes. Yes, it's that serious, people. At midnight I plan to be locking lips with my man in a crowded martini bar downtown. It's going to be like the movies. And even if it's not, it will be perfect because I'll be with the handsomest guy ever as 2014 rings in. I can't think of any place I'd rather be.

A few days ago, I discovered Flipagram, a fun app for creating slideshows. The slideshow for the first half of the year was my first project, which is why it is in a backward order and has no music. Sorry. I would go back and make it again, but I'm going to spend the time cuddling on the couch with my Ella instead while dreaming of the year to come.

Farewell, 2013!

Christmas at Home

One week ago right now I was preparing dinner for our Christmas Eve feast. We hosted, and I wanted to try something new, which I did and it just happened to turn out beautifully. But those details will be posted soon. That's right, Christmas dinner gets her very own post, she was that special. That was one week ago, and I feel like I'm sitting comfortably in solitude for the first time since that night. It may not be actual truth, but it feels like it. I do love the holidays, but it's amazing how busy things can get.

The Sunday before Christmas, we took our sweet Ella to her very first live stage production. I was wiping away tears as the curtain rose and Ella watched the dancers of The Minnesota Ballet's The Nutcracker began to dance across the stage. I couldn't believe that I was really attending a live show with my very own daughter. It was a complete surprise to her, which looking back, was maybe not the best idea on my part. Immediately following the first piece, Ella excitedly turned to me and asked, "Mama! Is it my turn? When can I dance on the stage?" Oh. I hadn't thought ahead that it would have been a good idea to explain that this was a performance we were watching, not participating in. My darling just couldn't understand why she wasn't allowed on stage. Can I blame her? It's in our blood! I love being on stage and always have. Pete and I gently explained between every single dance piece that we were only going to watch. She did, however, make it through the entire show, which made us very proud. As the curtain went down, though, big tears started to flow. The show was finished? There would be no more dancing?! Poor Ella cried all the way to the car. Next time I'll make sure to explain the entire process of watching a performance before we attend. She did love it, though!

I love sending out our annual Christmas card and letter. I so enjoy watching a Christmas movie while writing all the addresses on the envelopes and then carefully putting each one together in a little assembly line. This year didn't go quite that smoothly, though. The primary problem was that I forgot to actually order the cards until somewhere around December 10, when we had already accumulated a decent stack of cards from friends who were far more on top of it than I. So there I sat, anxiously waiting for Scott, our mail carrier, to deliver our box of cards on Monday. Yup, last Monday. Like the day before Christmas Eve. My plan was to write them all and send them off that same day by 5pm. Oh, friends, I tried! There's just something about taking care of two wee children at the same time. It nearly happened, but in the end, I didn't quite make it. Due to the hubbub of preparing to host on Christmas Eve, the cards finally made it to the post office the day after Christmas. Most of them, anyway. There are still some in transit. Sorry if yours is late this year. Doesn't Christmas technically last until Epiphany on January 6?

The morning of Christmas Eve we were prepared for our guests, all of the Scott family. Ella just couldn't wait for her cousins to arrive. She stacked her gifts for them and waited as patiently as she could.

After our Christmas meal at noon, the kids finally got the okay to share their presents. Wyatt was very excited to give Sam a gift he had helped pick out.

Miss Maira discovered princess Jelly Belly's in one of her packages.

Boxes are the best!

Sammy loves getting time with his aunties & uncles.

After a late round of cookies and pie, we all packed up to attend one of the Christmas Eve services at our church. It was a very cozy, traditional service. A couple of the worship leaders shared their stories of "coming home," we sang carols, and one of the pastors gave a beautiful message. Ella and her cousins even had a birthday party for Jesus in children's church! I love being a part of an incredible church family, especially at Christmas.

After church, we all headed back to our house and stayed up late talking before everyone left to get home before Santa. It was the perfect end to my favorite Christmas Eve in a long time.

The last few years, Pete and I have developed some of our own Christmas traditions. We somehow managed to be alone as a family on Christmas day every year through residency. After three years, we've adopted that as one of our favorite new traditions. We wake, peek in stockings, eat kringle (a Danish pastry Pete grew up with every Christmas), put on new jammies, and very slowly open presents throughout the day.

Ella got a sled from Santa! (I suppose this is where I insert my extreme gratitude to Walgreen's for having such a sled on Christmas Eve. That very morning I realized Santa had not yet actually picked up gifts for the two Olsen children. Santa jumped in the sleigh and sped to Walgreen's just before the Christmas Eve service and, after sending an employee out to the storage shed for the last available sled, purchased this beauty along with a musical toy for the wee lad of the family. All was right in the end. Thank you, Walgreen's and/or Santa!)

We've always kept our gifts to the kids very simple. Part of the reason is that we know they get things from most other family members, so we don't need to overload them with more things. The other more important reason for us is that we want them to appreciate what they receive. This year we got them each a gift and then one gift to share. The wood blocks is the gift the shared. They've already played with them for hours!

We hope you had a very happy Christmas!

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 I have now seen the final draft of the new blog! I'm continuing to work with a designer and a tech person to get it polish and posted so we can launch. It really could be any moment. I cannot wait to share it with you!!

A Very Family Thanksgiving

For months before Thanksgiving this year, we had planned that we would spend a quiet day with turkey & cranberries at home because of Pete's work schedule. However, just a few days before the day actually arrived, Pete's schedule got a bit busier, so I decided to take the kids to see the families! It meant a lot of time in the car, but that was excused by all the cuddles and play time with aunts & uncles. I'm so very glad we got to soak in the holiday!

On Wednesday afternoon, we drove to the middle of Wisconsin to visit Pete's parents and sisters. The trip has great potential to take just four hours, but it somehow stretches to nearly five when the kids are along! We used to be able to make it through with one short stop at the halfway point, but such is no longer the case. It's partly my fault, I admit. If I simply made one stop at a fast food place, we could probably get going a lot faster. Instead, I tend to stop at a big store where we end up buying things we forgot and walking down isles looking at things we don't need. This time, however, we had cash registers malfunction, a diaper overflow, and to top it off, a snide comment from a woman on our way out of the bathroom. With Sam in one arm, a bag tucked under the other and Ella's hand in mine, I wanted to sit on a bench and cry. Instead, we made it to the car, buckled in, flipped on a movie for Ella and public radio for me, and we were headed once again down the highway. Eight minutes later, just as I was settling into the flow of the road and sipping a coffee, the gas light turned on. Ugh. We did eventually make it, though, and Sam was ready for his Papa time.

Auntie Kristin was there and so was Auntie Kat. Kat flew in all the way from the East Coast, so I'm especially glad we were able to make it for Thanksgiving.

Ella performed a little interpretive ballet for everyone.

The kids adore visiting Nana & Papa "without the puppies" as Ella calls them. I love visiting, too. The kids get lots of play time with their aunties and cuddles with their grandparents. I even get to sleep in, which is absolutely dreamy.

Friday afternoon we packed in the car and headed back to Duluth. Guess what? It took us just four hours with only one short stop at a gas station. Happens every time when we're headed home. Pete was working over night, but we all met for breakfast in the morning before the kids and I drove to central Minnesota to my parents' house. The entire family was there!

Sam got some cuddle time with Uncle Jake...

and Wyatt...

...and Maira! The boy is fairly irresistible.

Then he was ready to eat!

So were the little girls at the kids' table. Good thing Great Grandma was there to keep and eye on all their shenanigans.

Happy Thanksgiving, Malena!

Maira eventually ditched the kids' table to catch dessert with the adults.

My beautiful sister, Jenny, and her sweet Wyatt. I love these two!

Meet Adam, Becky's new boyfriend. He seemed to fit in well with our crazy family antics. We really like him!

Jenny's boyfriend, Jason, also braved the wild Scott holiday. My brother Mike's girlfiend, Cara, was also in attendance, but I somehow didn't catch their picture. It was a full house, which felt quite perfect!

After dinner, Uncle Mike pulled out balloons and recruited our dad to make a few balloon animals for the kiddos. Remember I recently mentioned my dad used to be a professional clown?

We still occasionally beg him to bust out his skills for a few jokes or balloon critters. How many families can say that?!

 

Silly boy.

I just love this family!

I know we're well into the Christmas season, but after an entire month without posting, I had to get these up. We'll now be moving into the wintery loveliness!

Speaking of posting, we're getting really close to being ready to launch the new blog! I've taken the last month to slow things down a bit because once the new blog is up, I'll be writing multiple times each week. I just saw the first draft of the new design and am super excited to share it with you. It will be up before the New Year, so be sure to check back!

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I leave you with this - Pete's beard from No Shave November. He grew it out for the entire month, which is a unique way raise cancer awareness. I don't know about you, but I prefer the beard. Pete thinks it's more professional to shave for work, though. I just love that mountain man look!

Easter for Halloween?

Oh, my dear bloggy friends, I have not left you. I greatly apologize for my absence. Life has been a'movin! 

Not long ago, I mentioned that I am working on two big projects this fall. I revealed one in our last post - a vintage camper makeover. I'm happy to share that yesterday she was taken away to begin work on her roof, the first step in her winter-long transformation. Next will be all new outside lights and a paint job. I can't wait for the painting to begin! Then we'll see real changes. Anyway, that's project number one.

Project number two is a biggie and will surely be noticed by all of you. I am so exctied to let you in on my little secret: Amazing blog changes are just around the corner! I'm currently working with a deigner to create a completely new everything for the blog. We will soon be celebrating Little Olsen's fifth (yes, fifth!) blogaversary, which will be the perfect time for more than just a makeover. With a new look, there will be a new commitment on my part to posting. Twice a week you'll be able to ckeck in for written updates or simple musings. Two other days each week will feature photos or guest posts. You'll be able to click to our blog and know which days you can find what and know that it will always be fresh and new. I want to tell you so much more, but I'll try to contain myself for now. Just know that there is much more to come. And soon. I hope to have everything rolled out by the start of the new year. It's going to be great!

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Now let us catch up a bit. A couple weeks ago, we had Halloween with our annual trick-or-treating with the cousins at the university dorms. Such a genius idea to do this in the dorms since then we don't have to cover cute little costumes with big, bulky jackets and snow pants. You know how it can be here in Northern Minnesota. I remember many years trick-or-treating with a costume pulled on tightly over my pink snowsuit and boots. Do you know how hard it is to unwrap those tiny Tootsie Rolls while wearing plushy mittens? I'm so thankful to stay indoors for the festivities with our little ones.

Our dear Ella told me in September that she wanted to be a bunny for the holiday this year. I brainstormed how to make that happen. By brainstorming, I really mean I just logged onto Pinterest and searched for ideas. Why re-invent the wheel, right? I'm certainly not the first mama to create a bunny costume. After finding beautiful, elaborate toddler-sized costumes, I decided we were going to keep this as simple as possible. Then it occurred to me that I could probably convince Ella to be a ballerina bunny and go with most of what we already had. Let's be real, friends. Do you think I actually needed to convince her to be anything related to a ballerina? She was sold in an instant. I ordered cheap ears on Amazon (easier than gathering materials and making them from scratch) and we were set. 

Just before heading out the door, I decided to give Ella a little pink-painted nose with black whiskers. Do bunnies even have whiskers? If you're trying to find out, don't Google "bunny costume." You can guess what I came up with. I still have no idea if the little furry critters have whiskers, but I did end up putting little black dots on Ella's cheeks with eyeliner, just in case. That way I didn't have to fully commit. Smart mama, huh? I think the makeup along with the legwarmers just put her right over the top with cuteness.

I eventually realized that part of the reason Ella wanted to be a bunny was because Sam was going to be a chick. How cute is that? I think we have a book with a bunny and a chick, which might actually be an Easter book. Was this Easter or Halloween? I might dress them up in these very same outfits for our annual Easter egg hunt in the Spring!

Here's our little chick. Remember when Ella wore this costume? Cutest. Thing. Ever. Sam didn't seem to mind it at all while I wheeled him up and down the dorm halls. He wasn't a bit interested in candy, though. Maybe I shouldn't say that. He wasn't a bit interested in candy wrappers. I didn't really want him to get candy on that sweet chicky fluff. I gave him a cookie when we got home, though,. I am a pretty nice mom, after all. 

 

Little mister seemed pretty cozy in his stroller.

Another fun part of going to the university is that the dorm advisors organize all kinds of fun games and treats for the kids.

Overall, we had a pretty great time this year. Cute costumes, no puffy snowsuits, and just enough candy to last a day or two.

 

We'll be back next year!

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goodbye glasses!

The day after Halloween I went under the laser and had corrective eye surgery. Such a dream. Well, not the actual procedure. That part was pretty uncomfortable. It was a procedure similar to Lasik called PRK, which works to correct astigmatism as well as far-sightedness. I had both. Apparently, PRK is more painful and takes a bit longer to heal than Lasik because of how they do it. I was just thankful for darkness, Tylenol, and public radio podcasts while I healed. Pete was with the kids all weekend while I kept my eyes closed as much as possible. Then my mom came for two nights when Pete went back to work. Oh, how I love having my mom stay with me. She did after Sam arrived and after my appendix ruptured a year ago. I might consider being sick more often if it meant my mom could come take care of me every time. By the end of her couple days with us, I was feeling good. My sight is still adjusting, but I'm told that in two or three more weeks I'll be seeing very well and in about six months my sight will be nearly perfect. I started wearing glasses when I was 10, so I'm still getting used to not having htem. Such a treat to be free. It really, really is. 

 Back in the early days of my glasses. Like my side pony & jumper? I adored the outfit. This was a promo shoot with my dad and, yes, he was a clown. A really good clown. Very professional. He even went to clown school!

Christmas Loveliness {an album}

Hands down, this was my favorite Christmas ever. It wasn't any one thing in particular that made it so special. It was all the little, lovely moments tied together. Ella is at the perfect age for soaking in the magic of the season. Taking her to see Santa this year was far more fun that I had imagined. She danced on her toes in front of him while asking him to bring ballet slippers and he stood and danced right along with her. Adorable. She whispered that the Christmas lights in our neighbors' yards were gorgeous and exclaimed with delight that Christmas is when we "celebrate Jesus' birthday!"

Those details were only part of it. Another was that since I hate the obligation of giving a gift just to give a gift, I tried to make each gift meaningful this year. I think I did a fairly decent job. It was fun searching through Etsy and Amazon for fun gifts way back when I was in the hospital in November. Some gifts came that way while others were second-hand things I found at shops around town. That was one change my family made this year. We've started giving thrift store and garage sale finds, which I think is fabulous, since I love, love, love second-hand shopping.

Pete had to work all the days around Christmas and was on call on Christmas Day, so I took the kids to his parents' house before Christmas and my parents' house after. Pete's sister, Kathryn, was able to fly in from Virginia for Christmas, so we definitely wanted to make our way over to see everyone.

Papa Olsen & Sammy

Ella's booster seat when we visit

Nana Olsen always does a beautiful job decorating

Auntie Kristin knows exactly what Ella loves!

Sam opening a gift with Auntie Kathryn

Nana & Papa with the little ones

The afternoon of Christmas Eve we ventured back to Duluth to be with Daddy. Ella & I made krumkake to set out for Santa with a big cup of milk. We've been working on intentionally doing things the last two years that we want to make a part of our holiday traditions.

Ella's one Christmas Eve gift

a recorded Night Before Christmas from her godfather Anton!

We spent a very quiet Christmas Day at home since Pete was on call. This is how we've spent our last few Christmases, and we love it. No expectations. No traveling or busyness. It's lovely. We started by checking our stockings with Ella when she discovered the milk and cookies were gone! She was in awe. And she got the ballet slippers she asked Santa to bring! Oh that Santa. He's got some pretty good elves, eh?

Sam's ornament from Santa

Thanks, Salvation Army, for the great slippers.

Ella picked 5 things from the dollar store for Daddy

Ella has her very own Knuffle Bunny! She loves the Knuffle Bunny books.

Ella's wanted a robe. I found this Gap size 4 beauty at Goodwill.

oops

The morning after Christmas, I took the kiddos to my parents' house where all of my siblings and their kids were anxiously awaiting more festiveness. (I like that word. Festiveness.) Being with my family is basically the very opposite of being with Pete's family. His family is quiet and traditional, which makes for a very nice environment for rest. I always consider it a vacation to go to his parents' house. Visiting my family is the complete opposite. We are made of noise, chaos, and lots of laughter. This year was the epitome of such gatherings. Six kids under five with two uncles who were all about getting the little ones as wound up as possible made the holiday pretty fun. Just as an example, my older brother brought balloons that are made not to be tied but to let out all their air while they fly about the room making crazy high-pitch squeaky noises. And this was before a single Chrimstas present was opened. It was great fun.

Malena & Ella were ready for food!

kids' table with Wyatt

Jake & his girl, Valerie. (We really like her!)

Maira, Malena, Ella, Hailey

waiting patiently

I gave her a girly tutu. Mike gave her the weapon. Jake defended himself with Ariel.

All this chaos and Malena has a plastic sword. Yikes.

I'm still tired from Christmas, which doesn't really set me up for success tonight. Unless I swing through Caribou on the way to Eli & Krista's for our New Year's shindig. At long last, we don't have to celebrate at the hospital, which is exactly where we rang in the last two new years. It wasn't all that bad since we could watch TV and eat free food from the caf. But this year I'm planning to put the kids to bed, grab an apricot ale, and ring in 2013 with long smooch with my man. Sorry if that's not what you want to hear, but I actually get to this year, so I'm taking full advantage. Unless, of course, a mama needs to have a C section right at midnight and he's paged in for it. That's a very real possibility. But I'm so praying it doesn't happen. Maybe he won't notice if I bury his pager in the snow.

Blessings, friends, as you ring in the New Year! There are so many good things to come.

Oh, and just 13 days till Kenya!